Irish girls names

[JedBartlet]

Orla
Tara
Clodagh
Alannah
Cara
Una

I want a nod to Irish heritage without having something difficult to spell or pronounce for people in the UK - voice of experience!

Thoughts on the above, or any other suggestions that fit the bill?

I'm in London and we've got DD1 called Niamh and DD2 is Cara. I've never really had any problems with the spelling and pronunciation of Niamh (she is 5). We did consider calling Cara, Aoibheann but decided we couldn't do it to her.

I also absolutely love the Irish folk tale of Niamh and Oisin

Etain
Cait

Mitzy sorry, I didn't realise that was the correct Irish pronunciation. The only Sorcha I know (with Irish parents) pronounces it Sor-sha

Sadhbh

Runs away!

I had the Una v Yoona debate with my Dad last week funnily enough. Previously I wouldn't have thought it an issue either, but he seemed to think there was an actress pronounced Yoona?!

I love the name Maeve and Aoife (though think you mentioned you can't use the latter), and think both are popular enough now that you maybe wouldn't have a problem with pronunciation?

Sorry for my ignorance but wouldn't know where to start with pronouncing Niamh?

Niamh pronounced Neeve

deluxe there was/is an actress called Una (pronounced Yoona) Stubbs. I'm probably your dad's age, so that's why I remember her and the pronunciation of her name!

Niamh is pronounced Neeve in some places, but more like NEE-uv in the part of Ireland where I live.

How do you pronounce Caoimhe please?

Lily it is either pronounced Kee-vah or Kwee-vah (I believe!)

Orla is lovely but as you say op getting frequent. You could go Orlagh but that doesn't fit your easy read bill (I know where you're coming from, but from a different country perspective)

Love Clodagh and Niamh. Also Nuala.

Some great names here!

My name has been mentioned on this thread, and while I love it, I have spent a lot of time explaining/spelling/pronouncing it and I think I would rather an easier journey for my (English accented) children! I'm also conscious of my VERY English DPILs, who are absolutely lovely but I know would struggle a bit with spelling or saying some of these (Muireann for example, if anyone watches Catastrophe!!)

GoldStars3 thanks, you explained that exactly right! I do also love the meaning of Alannah.

LoveanIrishNams I love that story too, and would be tempted by Oisin if I was having a boy, although it absolutely doesn't fit my 'rules' I love Niamh, and I think it's pretty recognisable here now, but unfortunately it doesn't work for family reasons.

FreeNiki I LOVE Sadhbh, but can only imagine my PILs faces!! I also love Tadhg for a boy but would have the same issue.

Glad to see Clodagh is getting some love, maybe I can persuade DH! I like Clo for a nn.

Sadhbh has a beautiful meaning and is a pretty name but I guess it gives the child a lifetime of people having no idea how to say her name when they see it.

Haven't read the whole thread but haven't seen Mary suggested.

My Gran was Irish and had 7 sisters all called Mary. (Went by second names)

Caoimhe is pronounced Keeva

MessyBun it can also be Kweeva.

I do like Mary, but I'm not sure about it combined with my son's name (not Joseph or anything obvious!) it just sounds a bit like an old Irish couple sitting in a cottage mending fishing nets

DH's Irish grandmother was Rosaleen which I've always thought was very pretty.

Jed is it Seán ?

harderandharder2breathe Sorcha is my own name, that's indeed approximately how it's pronounced - it makes perfect sense in Irish though. Dorcha is pronounced duh-ra-kha for example, just the same but with a D instead.

I have to explain the pronunciation to people fairly often even in Ireland but I still really like the name (though a lot of people seem to think it's a "dog name", suppose it depends on the area)

holly

Finola is an accepted variant of Fionnuala - pronounced exactly as written.

Itll always be juno and the paycock to me.

Lots of people would think american indie comedy though

I love Clodagh. My dd would have been Clodagh Maeve but her English father was having none of it.